Effect of a generalized early mobilization and rehabilitation protocol on outcomes in trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a retrospective pre–post study

The impact of early mobilization and rehabilitation protocol (EMRP) on trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unclear owing to limited randomized controlled trials and methodological limitations in observational studies. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of trauma patients admitted to the ICU before and after EMRP implementation. A retrospective pre-post study was conducted on adult trauma patients having an Injury Severity Score ≥ 9 who were admitted to the ICU of a university hospital. Patients admitted from July 2021 to June 2022 comprised the pre-EMRP group, whereas those admitted from July 2022 to August 2023 comprised the post-EMRP group. Outcomes were compared between these two groups using propensity score matching to adjust for confounders. The primary outcome was the proportion of home discharge. The secondary outcomes were the Barthel Index score at hospital discharge, length of stay (LOS) in the ICU and hospital; Functional Status Score for the ICU at ICU discharge; and cumulative rate of patients reaching ICU Mobility Scale (IMS) levels ≥ 3, ≥4, and ≥ 7 within 28 days after ICU admission. Among 552 eligible patients, 254 and 298 were admitted during the pre-EMRP and post-EMRP phases, respectively. In the propensity score-matched cohort, the post-EMRP group showed a higher proportion of home discharge (52.1% vs. 41.1%, difference: 11.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-20.2%), higher Barthel Index score at hospital discharge (95.0 [55.0-100.0] vs. 80.0 [40.0-100.0], P = 0.007), and shorter LOS in the ICU (5.0 [3.0-11.0] vs. 7.0 [4.0-11.0] days, P = 0.03) than the pre-EMRP group. EMRP was associated with a higher rate of patients reaching IMS levels ≥ 3 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06-1.57), ≥ 4 (HR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03-1.56), and ≥ 7 (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.08-1.70). Compared with pre-EMRP implementation, EMRP for adult trauma patients was associated with a higher proportion of home discharge, an improved Barthel Index score at hospital discharge, and a shorter LOS in the ICU. These findings indicate that EMRP may facilitate returning home by improved physical function.